Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1887-04-19
The PRETTY ORPHAN.

1 hci ucculc tuTOuBn tuc btoCkiHg Biz
was darnlng.
| Mr.. Black looked puzzled. He was
an excellent business man. but he did
not understand the complication OF do
nestle diplomacy.
"Well, my dear, that isn't her fault,
is it?" said he.
"Her faults No! Who said it was?"
snapped his wife. ''You don't under
stand, Black"
mo, l suppose | don't" he return
ed, meekly. "But l must confess l
think it's rather hard to turn the poor
girl adriit. after you have formally
adopted her out of the asylum. And
she is such good girl, too"
"Yes, but | never thought Df her
growing mp so pretty. and Frank fall
ing in love with her."
"Wouldn't she make good little
lwife for Frank"
| Back, you talk like child Our
boy must marry rich. And Lila must
go awayp'
"Where?"
al don't care; anywhere, 50 that
she will not be stumbling block in
Franks path. For | have set my
heart on Frank marrying Priscilla
Grant. She has property-shc will be
suitable match
"Yes, but, my dear" hesitatdd Mr..
Black, suppose your precautions
come too late? Suppose she has al
ready learned to care for Frank?'
"Then she must unlearn, that is
ALL" said Mrs. Black, sharply. "Lilia
| is a nice girl enough, but she must be
taught to know her place. shall send
her to Aunt Agnew-she has written
to me TOR some sort of companion,
land | think it likely that Lii ia will
meet her wishes ana ideas. At all
levcnts she will be gotten out OF
Franks way. And Frank and Ed
ward must be our first consideration
Iyou know"
SO Lila Rcdburn was called ina
Idimpled, dark-eyed girl, with coral
red lips and shy, bewitching way Of
looking at you from under her long
Icyelashcs, and told without much un-
necessary preamble that she was to be
transferred to the roof of Miss Abigail
Agnew, her adopted fathers aunt.
She listened quietly; Lila was not
one OF those who wear their hearts
land tongues upon their sleeves; but
her poor little heart sank down, down,
like u lump of lead in her bosom. And
that night she cried herself to sleep.
Miss Abigail Agnew was sitting in
her curions little room that evening
when Lila Redburn was announced.
1t was q quaint room. and Miss Agnew
was quaint woman, shrivaled, all
cient ami bowed over, with gold spec
tables cleaning before her eyes, and
priceless yellow lace, quilted after an
antique fashion. around her neck.
"Come in, Lila, come in, said the
old lady. You see knaw you,
iname, Price" TO the maid, "tring the
tea and toast. You cant q lat any
Thing? Psbaw, you must cat I'm
not one to be tritled with, and | say
Iyou must cat. What made my niece
IBlack, send you away? Naughty
Igirl, eh?'
| Lila colored scarlet and dropped he
lids before the sharp, pretty fire of Thu
lold lady's eyes.
II hope not, ma'am | tried to q,
my best. IL don't know exactl,
lwhy she sent me here"
al do then" said Miss Agnew
pouring the tea out of n chased silve
{ teapot into china set rs delicate an,
transparent as gilded egg shells. 'YoI
were too pretty, my dear"
II, ma'am?'
, "But We won't discuss the question
: any further, my DEAR" said the oil,
: woman, "drink your tea and go t
=, bed. Tomorrow we will commcnc
Tour dutiesl"
i Lila Redburn was very happy i
Ihcr new home. Miss Agnew was pC
9 culiar, but there was q kernel OF ret
honest kindness beneath the dry an
luninviting husk of the outward man
liner, and Lila soon contrived to penC
tratc to it. Yet she sighed olten-an
=. Miss Agnew knew that she was ne
Happy.
/ Lila" she said One day, suddenly
do you want to go back to MY nephe'
Black's."
Il Lila burst into tears, and made he
+ simple confession in one syllable.
I "Yes?"
81 "Wby? Tell me honestly and truly
: Imy darling" patting the bloomin
cheek with her withered hand. "Di
Iyou love Frank Black?'
II Prank o, Miss Agne W, no!
i wouldn't care-only for Ned"
Il Med, chr" said the old lady, scratch
o ling her nose with the slicNs of he
Ipearl fan.
!, "Ned, l know, ought not to thin
- lot him." went on Lila. hiding he
face on Miss Abigail's lap. because
: am only poor orphan and his pal
Tents are proud and ambitious of him
las it is right and natural they shoul
be ! don't complain; pray, pray, dcs
Miss Agnes, don't think I'm complain
ling, but it is h4rdl"
"Does he love you, my dear"
"He never told me So" faltere
ILilia, taxing refuge behind the lon
lashes.
"Does he love you, l say.' rci,era
led the old lady.
"Yes, think he does, confesse
Lila.
"Well, it's queer world we liy
lin," said Miss Agnew, apparently az
dressing herself TO the parrot, 'whe
Hove can't hold its own against MONEY
IGet your hat, Lila, and we'll go for
IwalE, can't stay in the house whe
I'm irritated in my mind. y
Three days aiterward Mrs. Blac
Ereceived short note from Miss All
gail Agnew:
DEAR NIECE.-You have not been to 6,
lLlia since she came here. She Is goo,
h Iaffectlonate girl. and l think she fee
10 iyour neglect. But l write particular
70 to say that have concluded to adopt
i Idauphter OF nv own and settle all m